Daily Current Affairs

June 24, 2025

Current Affairs

India ranks 71st on Energy Transition Index 2025: WEF

Context: India has ranked 71 out of 118 countries in the recently launched Energy Transition Index (ETI) by the World Economic Forum. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about the Energy Transition Index. 

Energy Transition Index

  • Launched by: World Economic Forum
  • ETI ranks countries based on their progress towards energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. 
  • The report benchmarked the performance of energy systems of 118 countries across:
    • Threesystem performance dimensions- energy security, sustainability and equity.
      • Energy security: presence of a stable and resilient energy supply through developing a diversity of energy sources as well as grid and power supply reliability)
      • Equity: access to energy for all, including consumers and industries. 
      • Sustainability: promoting energy sources that have lower impacts on the environment such as lower carbon footprints.
    • Five transition readiness factors- political commitment, finance and investment, innovation, infrastructure, and education and human capital.
  • The Index used 43 indicators under these broad categories using data from multiple sources and organisations, and scored countries on a scale of 0 to 100.

Energy Transition Index 2025

Global Highlights: 

  • Sweden (score 77.5) topped the list of 118 countries, followed by Finland and Denmark. China was ranked 12th, and the US was 17th. 
  • While the majority of countries improved their scores in 2025, the share of countries advancing across all three energy dimensions was only 28%, which reflects uneven progress.
  • Despite $2 trillion in clean energy investment in 2024, emissions hit a record 37.8 billion tonnes in the hottest year on record (2024), as energy demand rose 2.2% driven by artificial intelligence, data centres, cooling and electrification.

India-specific Highlights: 

  • India’s rank has fallen from 63rd in 2024 to 71 out of 118 countries in 2025. India scored 53.3 on the Index.
  • India has made progress in lowering energy intensity and CH4 emissions, favourable energy regulations and increasing clean energy investments.
  • India needs improvement in grid reliability, energy access for rural areas and further reducing dependence on imported energy. This requires further investment in infrastructure, renewables, labour force development and financing to boost the country’s energy transition. 

As per WEF, the top five largest economies- China, the US, EU, Japan and India- will determine the pace and direction of the global energy transition due to their sheer size. 

Together, they account for around half of the global GDP, population and total energy supply (TES), and also nearly two-thirds of global emissions, giving them an outsized influence through their consumption patterns, investment flows and policy choices. 

Kerala's Wildlife Trophy Amnesty Proposal

Context: The Kerala Forest Department’s recent move to approach the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for a one-time amnesty for people possessing wildlife trophy in the State has reignited a debate over the department’s alleged preferential treatment of wildlife offenders.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key provisions in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

  • As per the Section 40 of WPA, 1972: Any person having the control, custody or possession of any animal article, trophy or uncured trophy of captive animals specified in Schedule I can voluntarily surrender it to the Chief Wild Life Warden (an appointee of state governments) or the Authorised Officer.
  • No compensation will be paid to the person for it, and the surrendered items will become the property of the state government.
  • Illegal possession of a wildlife trophy can result in imprisonment for three to seven years and a fine of not less than ₹25,000. 

Demand for one-time amnesty for people possessing Wildlife Trophy: 

  • Kerala has pushed a proposal to the State Board for Wildlife for granting another chance to declare wild animal articles and trophies under Section 40 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 
  • The last opportunity fixed by the Union government for individuals to declare the wildlife trophy in their possession had expired in 2003.
  • Rationale: To offer an opportunity for the legal heirs who inherited wildlife trophies from their ancestors with valid ownership certificates but could not get their names declared. 
  • The power to provide the amnesty vests with the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The State Board for Wildlife may request the Central government to take suitable action on the matter in real and genuine cases. 

Also Read: When tigers and jackals get the same protection 

Why is the Strait of Hormuz critical for India?

Context: In response to the recent US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran’s Parliament has approved the closure of Strait of Hormuz. However, the final decision will be taken by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Strait of Hormuz. Mains: Importance of Strait of Hormuz.  

The ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran hold serious consequences for global energy markets, especially for countries like India, which rely heavily on oil and gas imports as Iran has reportedly threatened that it could consider closing the strait of Hormuz. 

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About Strait of Hormuz

  • Strait of Hormuz is a critical narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
  • It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Around 20% of the global oil and gas supply- including shipments from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, and Iran- transit this narrow channel daily.
    • If it is closed by Iran, oil prices could jump to over $120, or even $150 per barrel from $74 per barrel.
  • At just 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes only 3 kilometers wide in each direction, the strait is particularly vulnerable to disruption. 

Has the Strait ever been closed?

Despite past threats, Iran has never closed the Strait of Hormuz- even during major conflict- due to its global energy importance and the risk of strong retaliation from regional powers and the US. Iran might refrain from choking the Strait of Hormuz as: 

  • Rupture Iran's relationship with Oman (which owns the southern half of the strait) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC States).
  • Heavily impact China, Iran’s largest trading partner. China is the number one importer of oil, accounting for nearly three-quarters of Iran’s oil export. 
  • Impact Iran: Closure of its oil exporting terminal and associated economic hit would fuel popular discontent, which might impact both regime stability, and reformist tendencies for Iranian President.

Importance of the Strait of Hormuz for India: 

The Strait of Hormuz is vital for India due to its energy dependence in the region with most of this energy coming via the Strait of Hormuz.

  • Strategic Energy Chokepoint: India’s oil supply is heavily reliant on the region, with around 40% of its crude oil imports and 54% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. Any threat or blockade increases freight and insurance costs (risk premium), raising the landed price of oil and gas in India.
  • Global Price Surge Impact: Even without direct supply cuts, tensions cause global oil price spikes, which hurt India due to its heavy dependence on energy imports. This can affect India’s trade deficit, foreign exchange reserves, rupee stability, and inflation levels.
  • Indirect Impact via China: Even if India does not import Iranian oil (due to US sanctions), any disruption in Iran’s supply to China will push Chinese demand to India’s suppliers, tightening global supply and raising prices.

Conclusion: The Strait of Hormuz is a lifeline for India’s energy security. While immediate disruption is unlikely, continued tension in the region poses serious economic risks.

Tribal Welfare Outreach Campaign Launched Across 500+ Districts in India

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the Tribal Welfare Outreach Campaign to implement tribal welfare schemes across over 500 districts in India.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About outreach campaign for the implementation of its welfare schemes, PM JANMAN, Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.

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Tribal Welfare Outreach Campaign:

  • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has rolled out a large-scale outreach campaign for the implementation of its welfare schemes in over 500 districts of the country, aiming to cover 1 lakh tribal dominated villages and habitations.
  • The outreach is a part of the Centre’s ongoing year-long celebration of the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh. The Centre began this celebration on November 15, 2024, the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.
  • Objective: The campaign is centered around ‘benefit saturation’ camps aimed at  last mile doorstep delivery of two key flagship schemes:
    • Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN)
    • Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN):

  • Launched in 2023
  • Objective: Address socio-economic challenges faced by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
  • Focus: Basic facilities and welfare services to PVTGs, including- housing, water, sanitation, education, health, connectivity, and livelihood opportunities.
  • Delivery Mechanism: Localised camps offering documentation, health cards, financial inclusion, and welfare enrolment.

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan:

  • Launched in 2024. Named after Birsa Munda, revered tribal freedom fighter also known as Dharti Aaba (Father of the Earth)
  • Objective: Comprehensive development of tribal areas and communities by addressing critical gaps in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and livelihoods. 
  • Enabling infrastructure and enhancing socio-economic conditions in selected tribal-majority villages (with a population of 500 or more, and at least 50% tribal residents as well as villages in Aspirational Districts with a tribal population of 50 or more). 
  • 17 Ministries of the Government of India will unite for the welfare of tribal communities through 25 focus interventions. Each line ministry has been allocated budget and targets under the scheme. Construction of hostels, rural electrification, building of homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, livestock support and fisheries support etc.
  • Nodal Agency: Ministry of Tribal Affairs 
  • The Mission will span a period of 5 years, from 2024-25 to 2028-29. 

The outreach campaign will run for a fortnight. Among its focal points are providing basic documentation to tribal communities in the form of Aadhaar cards, Ayushman Bharat cards through enrolment, grant of titles under the Forest Rights Act, and opening of pension accounts as well as Jan Dhan accounts. 

India-Croatia to strengthen bilateral ties

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister of India visited Croatia. He held official talks with the Croatian Prime Minister to enhance bilateral relations across defence, space, infrastructure, and digital sectors.

Relevance of the Topic:  Prelims: Recent developments in India-Croatia bilateral ties; Location of Croatia. 

image 24

Key Highlights of the Visit

  • Defence Cooperation: India and Croatia will make long-term plans for deepening the defence partnership, focusing on defence production alongside training and military exchange.
  • Joint Ventures in Space: India and Croatia to jointly work on space technology and projects, reflecting India's growing soft power in tech diplomacy.
  • Economic Cooperation:
    • India seeks to enhance investment into Croatia’s critical industries like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT, clean technology, digital technology, and semiconductors.
    • Under the Sagarmala Project, the Indian PM invited Croatian companies to participate in port modernisation, coastal zone development, multimodal connectivity, and shipbuilding initiatives in India.
  • Connectivity: Croatia can serve as India’s gateway into Central and Southeastern Europe. Though not a formal stakeholder in IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) yet, Croatia would complement the corridor’s European leg through regional logistics and port connectivity. 

India has historical ties with the Adriatic region, further strengthened by people-to-people connections.

image 37

Location of Croatia

  • Croatia is situated in Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. 
  • It borders Slovenia (northwest), Hungary (northeast), Serbia (east), Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro (southeast), and shares a maritime border with Italy to the west.
  • Capital and largest city: Zagreb

Trade may open doors to Invasive Alien Species

Context: Shifting trade agreements and new ties between previously unlinked nations may further increase the spread of new invasive alien species between continents.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts about Invasive Alien Species.

Mains: Impact of Invasive alien species. 

Freight transport between growing economies is projected to triple by 2050, especially maritime and air cargo transport, increasing invasion risk by reducing travel time and improving the survivability of alien species.

What are Invasive Alien Species?

  • They are non-native species introduced (intentionally or accidentally) into new environments where they cause harm.
  • They outcompete native species, disrupt ecosystems, and harm human livelihoods and health.
  • E.g., Giant African snail arrived in India around the 1870s, displaced native snails, damaged crops and ecosystems, and spread the rat lungworm parasite, threatening human and wildlife health.

How do Invasive Alien Species enter? 

The introduction of these exotic species can be deliberate or accidental.

Deliberate Introduction (Biocontrol): 

  • Gambusia (mosquitofish), Poecilia reticulata (guppies), and Pterophyllum scalare (angelfish)- introduced for mosquito control and ornamental trade.
  • Tilapia- introduced to boost food security, but has outcompeted native freshwater species.

Accidental Introduction (Biofouling, Trade & Transport): 

  • Parthenium grass- entered into India with the US wheat imports under the PL-480 ‘Food for Peace’ programme in 1955.
  • Giant African snail- likely arrived around the 19th century through East African trade.
  • Asian paddle crab- introduced to New Zealand via biofouling in ballast water. 

Biofouling: 

  • When ships travel between countries without cargo, they are filled with ballast water to help the ship stay stable on the high seas. 
  • Biofouling is the undesirable accumulation of plants, animals, and algae on surfaces, sometimes during the filling and flushing of ballast water, which can transport exotic species from one region to another. 
  • E.g., The Asian paddle crab was introduced from the Northwest Pacific and East Asian waters to New Zealand, where it carries the white-spot syndrome virus, via Biofouling.
image 23

Impacts on India

  • A 2022 study found that India has lost $127.3 billion (₹830 crore) to invasive alien species over the last 60 years. This makes India, the second-most financially affected nation by invasive alien species in the world, after the US.
  • The estimate is based on costs from only 10 out of 2,000+ invasive species in India. Economic impacts are known for just 3% of these species; data for the rest is incomplete or missing.
  • Semi-aquatic and aquatic invasive alien species pose a greater fiscal burden than terrestrial species as they often affect high-value sectors like public health, water infrastructure, and fisheries.
  • E.g., The yellow fever mosquito is the most financially damaging invasive semi-aquatic species in India. It poses threats to both public health and the economy.

Way Forward

To reduce the risk of importing invasive alien species, India needs to: 

  • Strengthen National Policy: Enforcing stricter biosecurity at ports and other entry points and developing real-time species-tracking and early-warning systems that can catch invasion events before they get out of control.
  • Stronger Collaboration between government departments and researchers to track potentially invasive species and their spread under changing climate and trade patterns.
  • Mandatory Implementation of post-trade biological impact assessments, typically in quarantine facilities managed by the respective departments.

Strengthening policies to reduce the spread of invasive species is one step towards managing their consequences on native biodiversity. Like One Health, the implementation of a ‘One Biosecurity’ framework will better our chances of managing invasive alien species. 

What happens if Iran Withdraws from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?

Context: Amid the heightened military tensions between Iran and Israel, Iran's Parliament is preparing a Bill to potentially leave the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Relevance of the Topic : Prelims: Key facts about Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Mains: Crisis in West Asia- Key Developments.  

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

  • NPT is a multilateral treaty, signed in 1968, aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons including three elements:
    • Non-proliferation
    • Disarmament
    • Peaceful use of Nuclear Energy. 
  • It defines nuclear weapon states (NWS) as those that had manufactured and detonated a nuclear explosive device prior to 1 January 1967. Five NSW are China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. All the other states are non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS). 
  • The Treaty does not affect the right of state parties to develop, produce, and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 
  • The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verifies NNWS compliance with commitments under the NPT not to acquire nuclear weapons.
  • India, Israel, and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons but have never accepted the NPT. India considers NPT as flawed and as it does not recognise the need for universal, non-discriminatory verification and treatment. 

Iran is a signatory to NPT, and is obligated to allow IAEA inspections and limit enrichment. Recently, the IAEA’s Board of Governors has censured Iran for breaching its non-proliferation obligations.

According to the IAEA, Iran has 400 kg of uranium that is already enriched to 60%, just a few steps away from further enrichment to weapons-grade level of 90% or more. The total stockpile of uranium and other nuclear material would be much more.

Can Iran leave the NPT?

The United States has attacked three key nuclear installations in Iran- Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz. This marked the entry of the US into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Iran has the legal right to withdraw from the NPT owing to the US strikes.

  • Article 10 of NPT: Each Party shall in exercising its national sovereignty have the right to withdraw from the Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of this Treaty, have jeopardised the supreme interests of its country.
  • A notice of withdrawal must be given to other parties and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), three months in advance, and such notice shall include a statement of the extraordinary events it regards as having jeopardised its supreme interests.

Exiting the treaty raises two major concerns: 

  • Increased opacity in Iran’s Nuclear program: It will keep Iran out of the IAEA’s purview and regular inspections. IAEA would lose access to visit nuclear-sites in Iran. 
  • Set a precedent to exit NPT: It could set a precedent for other states to leave the global framework and weaken cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation.

However, remaining in the NPT does not necessarily signal an intention to build nuclear weapons, because signatories (like North Korea) have also developed weapons in the past. 

India to be world’s 4th largest electric car maker by 2030

Context: India’s planned electric four-wheeler manufacturing capacity is projected to rise over tenfold to 2.5 million units by 2030, up from just 0.2 million at present, making it the fourth-largest electric car producer globally after China, Europe, and the US. 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts- EV Manufacturing status; FAME I, FAME II, PLI-Auto, PM E-DRIVE, SPMEPCI.

Mains: EV Policy in India: Progress & Gaps

Electric Vehicle Manufacturing in India

Rapid Expansion

  • By 2030, India’s electric car demand is estimated to reach between 0.4-1.4 million units, up from 0.1 million in 2024. The electric vehicle (EV) penetration rate would be around 7-23% in four-wheelers from 2% in 2024. 
  • India’s electric car production capacity is expected to reach 2.5 million units, and the manufacturing capacity would outstrip domestic demand. India’s anticipated production capacity will be far behind China’s 29 million, EU’s 9 million, and 6 million in the US.

Need to catch up Pace:  

  • To protect local manufacturers, India has maintained import tariffs of up to 70-100% on fully built EVs. However, this protective stance also limits consumer choice and raises costs. Presently, almost 100% of India’s EV manufacturing is only for its domestic market. 
  • By 2030, India’s cell production capacity will lag behind China, Europe, the US, and Canada. China is expected to lead with a cell manufacturing capacity of 4,818 gigawatt hours (GWh), in contrast to India at 567 GWh. 

Govt. Initiatives to drive India's EV Sector: 

  • FAME Scheme (Phase I & II)
  • PLI Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components (PLI-Auto)
  • PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells (PLI-ACC)
  • PM E-DRIVE Scheme (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement)
  • SPMEPCI Scheme (Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India)

The increase in domestic EV manufacturing aligns with the government’s strategy to ‘Make in India for the world’. However, Indian companies will need to lower the cost of manufacturing to compete with exports from China.

Also Read: Addressing Policy Gaps in India’s EV Journey  

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

Context: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has bagged a Transfer of Technology deal from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), valued at ₹511 crore, to build and operate Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs). This deal will enable commercialisation of SSLV launches. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

About Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

  • ​​The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is the new small satellite launch vehicle developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to cater to the emerging global small satellite launch service market.
  • It is designed to meet 'Launch on Demand' requirements in a cost-effective manner. 
  • It is a three-stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid fuel Propulsion Stages. It also has a liquid propulsion based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage. 
  • SSLV is capable of launching Mini, Micro, or Nanosatellites (10 to 500 kg mass) up to 500 km in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • It is capable of multiple orbital drop-offs i.e., launch multiple microsatellites in one launch. 
  • SSLVs will cost 1/10th of a PSLV and will need only 72 hours for launch in comparison to 70 days for PSLV. 
  • Manufacturing of SSLV will be through Indian industry partners led by New Space India Limited, ISRO's commercial arm. 
PSLV vs SSLV difference

Advantages:

  • Reduced Turn-around time
  • Launch-on-Demand i.e., it can be launched on a short-time based on the demand for launch services 
  • Flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites in one launch (Ride Sharing/ multiple orbital drop-offs)
  • Minimum launch infrastructure requirement
  • Cost optimisation i.e., provides low-cost access to Space.

US enters in Iran-Israel Conflict

Context: Recently, the United States attacked three key nuclear installations in Iran- Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz, with the US President claiming that all the three facilities had been completely and totally obliterated. This marked the entry of the US into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Locations in News- Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz

Mains: Significance of US entry in Iran for the world.

Israel-Iran Conflict- Recent Developments

  • All the three facilities targeted by the US are key uranium enrichment sites that house the infrastructure to convert natural uranium into highly enriched uranium (HEU) that is needed to make a nuclear bomb. 
  • The US attacks follow a series of missile strikes by Israel which had targeted Iran’s nuclear installations, most notably Natanz. 
    • Natanz is Iran’s main enrichment site that had Uranium enriched up to 60% purity before Israeli strikes destroyed a part of this facility. 
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In retaliation, Iran launched missile attacks at the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American base in West Asia. Qatar said it successfully intercepted the missiles and that there were no deaths and injuries. 

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What bombs did the US use to strike Iran?

  • The US forces used six B-2 stealth bombers to drop 12 bunker-buster bombs on Fordow. 
  • Navy submarines fired 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Natanz and Isfahan, while a B2 dropped two bunker busters on Natanz.
  • These B-2 stealth bombers are equipped with the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb designed to dismantle heavily fortified underground targets. This type of bomb is unique to the US arsenal and is considered the only weapon capable of effectively targeting Iran’s most protected nuclear facilities.

Why has the US attacked Iran?

  • The US has for long opposed Iran possessing a nuclear weapon and was in talks with the country to strike a nuclear deal when Israel attacked Iran on June 13, triggering retaliation from Iran.
  • Iran has maintained that its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes, however, the US and Israel believe Iran could potentially assemble a nuclear weapon.
  • Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency censured Iran for the first time in 20 years for not working with its inspectors. It happened amid talks between the US and Iran for the removal of economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for reducing or ending uranium enrichment. 
  • The stalemate in the nuclear talks prompted the US to issue a cautionary statement that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. 
  • Iran has maintained that it would not discuss the future course of its nuclear programme while at war with Israel.

US enters in Iran-Israel Conflict- Significance & Implications

  • Stronger US-Israel bond: The strikes marked the first full-fledged demonstration of US's “iron-clad” support for Israel. Israel claims that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and posing an existential threat to it. It has long sought to target Iran’s nuclear program, but lacked the capability to take out the facility in Fordow.
  • Weakened Iran: Israel has claimed to have destroyed about one-third of Iran’s missile launching capabilities. The US B-2 bombers came in and out of Iranian airspace unchallenged is proof of the degraded capacity of Iran. The strikes have eliminated top Iranian military officials and over 600 civilians. Iran is now at its weakest, politically and militarily.
  • Ghosts of Iraq: Iran has criticised the US for violating international law and attacking its territorial sovereignty. The premise for the US attacks (that Iran was close to building a nuclear bomb) is being compared/criticised to US invasion on Iraq in 2003, when it made claims about the country possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction. This led to a bloody war over 8 years, destabilisation of the region, and emergence of Daesh in Iraq in around 2012. 

Concerns

  • Potential Nuclear Disaster in Iran: The attacks by Israel and the US have led to fears of a potential nuclear disaster, in the form of a nuclear explosion, or large-scale nuclear radiation leaks. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not seen any increase in off-site radiation levels following the US’s attack.
  • Disruption of Trade via Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s parliament (the Majlis) has approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks by the US. Any ballistic missile and rocket attack in the Persian Gulf, including by the Houthis in the Red Sea region, will raise the economic cost. 
  • Escalation of Conflict and global instability: With the entry of the US, and Iran’s retaliatory strikes of the US bases in Qatar, raises concerns of a full-scale war which can have serious economic, security, humanitarian implications and cause instability in the middle-east region and the world. 
  • Iran could exit NPT: Iran has the legal right to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) owing to the US strikes. Article 10 states that an NPT member has the right to withdraw from the Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events have jeopardised the supreme interests of its country. Exiting NPT will keep Iran out of the IAEA’s purview and regular inspections, and it could set a precedent for other states to leave the treaty.

India’s Stand

  • The Indian Prime Minister spoke with the President of Iran and called for immediate de-escalation, hours after the US struck three prominent nuclear sites in Iran. 
  • India launched Operation Sindhu to bring back Indians from Iran and Israel in view of increasing hostilities between the two nations.
  • India increased its purchases of Russian oil in June, importing more than the combined volumes from West Asian suppliers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, amid market volatility triggered by Israel’s attack on Iran.

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